hochhausen



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

.. W. HOGHHAUSBN.

BLEGTRIG DISTRIBUTION BY SECONDARY BATTERIES.

No. 367,630. Patented Aug. 2, 188.7.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

W. HOGHHAUSEN.

.BLBGTBIG DISTRIBUTION BT SECONDARY BATTERIES..

No. 367,630. Patented Aug. 2, 188.7..

Messes.'

faQ/ @mi UNITED STATESN PATENT IOEEICE.

YVILLIAM HOCIIIIAUSEN, OF NEWT YRK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION BY SECONDARY BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,630, dated August2, 1887.

Application filed June 2L-1883. Serial No. 98,736. (No model.) Patentedin England June 23, 1883, No. 3,123, in France Scptomber 13, 1883, No.157,534; in Germany September 1S, 1883, No.29,8/19, and in CanadaDecember 1, 1883, No. 18,231.

and useful Improvements in Electric-Distrilm-y tion Systems, ot' whichthefl'ollowing is a speci-v fication.

My invention relates to systems of electric lighting in which both arcand incandescent lights are supplied from the same generator.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a system wherein thegenerative capacity of the dynamo-machine may be utilized in theday-time as well as at night, when the lights are required for use.

My invention consists, broadly, of a novel system of electric lightingin which secondary batteries are employed at various points on a circuitwhere a light is required, said batteries being charged from adynamo-machine at a central station and serving to operate incan`descent lights, electric-arc lamps also placed upon said circuit, andsuitable polarized electro-magnetic switches in the main-line circuitthat are controlled from the central or generating station, and serve toswitch the arc lights and the secondary batteries into or out of circuitin such way that at knight the are lamps only shall be in circuit withthe generator, while at other times the secondary batteries may beplaced in circuit7 the are lamps being then cut out or disconnected.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement whereby,any number of secondary batteries placed in the same general circuit maybe charged together from the same generator, and may each independentlyof the others be automatically switched out of the circuit when it hasacquired its proper charge.

A further object of my invention is to provide a Ineans whereby anynumber of secondary batteries supplied from the same generator may beswitched out ot' circuit by a device located at or near the generator.

The object of my invention is also to provide a means of automaticallyshunting or disconnecting any secondary battery from the main orgcneratin g circuit when it has received its charge, and at t-he sametime automatically connecting it to the lamp or other circuitcontainingtranslating devices which the battery is designed to operate.

Myinvention consists in certain novel combinations of apparatus thatwill be hereinafter described, and then set out in the claims.

My invention consists, also, in the combination, with the secondarybattery, of a switch controlling the connection thereofwith acharging-circuit, a polarized electrolnagnet for operating orcontrolling the switch included in such charging-circuit, and apole-changer of any suitable kind associated with the charginglgeneratorfor reversing the connections of the generator with the main line.

` My invention consists, also, in the combination, with a secondarybattery, of an electric switch operated rby a change in the speciiicgravity ofthe battery-liquid, whereby when the battery has acquired apredetermined charge a circuit may be closed for disconnecting,shortcircuiting, or for setting into operation apparatus fordisconnecting or short-circuiting said battery automatically upon theacq'uirement by thc battery ot' a predetermined charge.'

" I am aware that it is not new to employ an electro-magnet in a derivedcircuit around the battery for this purpose; but such device works uponan entirely dii'i/'erent principle from my device, and although I have,for the purpose o f elucidating certain portions of my invention,described and shown such a derived-circuit Inagnet, I do not lay anyspecific claim to the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a diagram illustrating thegeneral circuits of the system and some of the forms of devices forproducing the desired switching operations that may be used for carryingout my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates another kind of automatic switchfor automatically s hunting or cntting out the secondary battery withwhich it is individually associated when such .battery Shall haveacquired a predetermined charge.

Referring to Fig. l, A indicates a dynamo- 'electric machine or othersuitable generator of electricity, and 5 the general-circuit wireconnected therewith, upon which the secondary batteries and electricarclamps are placed.

T is a galvanometer in the main circuit for indicating the conditionofthe current therein.

B B, dac., indicate electric-arclamps of any desired or usualconstruction, which may be placed in circuit with the generator A inseries connection, as usual, or may be disconnected from said circuit atpleasure by means of polarized electro-magneticswitches O,which arecontrolled in their operation by means of a pole changing orreversing-key or apparatus, D, interposed in the general circuit 5 ofthe dynan1o-generator A.. The pole-changer l) is of obvious andwell-known construction, and operates in the well-known manner toreverse the flow of current from generator A upon the circuit 5.

The polarized switch C consists in thepresent instance of a pivotedvibratory lever, c, of soft iron or other magnetic material, which issurrounded by a coil, b, interposed constantly in the general circuit 5,and a permanent or other magnet, c, between the poles 'N S 0i' which thelever a vibrates. When the current flows in one direction on circuit 5,lever a is drawn to one pole and there retained so long as the currentcontinues to flow in the saine direction. lVhen the current is changedin direction by polechangcr D, the lever (L is drawn to the otherpole,and there rcmainsuntil current ceases to flow or the pole-changer Dis shifted.

The polarized eleetromagnet described is but one form of many that mightbe used. The construction and operation of this class of devices arewell understood, and need not be described further in detail. Lever coperates switch-contacts d, insulated from one another, and carried by alever, e, between which and another` lever, f, the end ot' lever cworks. Levers c and j' are connected by aspring, which normally tends todraw them and the lever c into an upright position. Contacts d areconnected, olie directly with the general circuit wire 5 and the otherwith the same point through the lamp or lamps B. The lever a, isconnected with the circuitwire 5 on the other side of the lamp. In oneposition of said lever, as that shown in the drawings, the lamps are cutout of circuit. lVhen the lever is drawn to the other cxtreme position,the upper contact, d, comes into contact therewith, the lower contactbeing at the same time withdrawn, so that the lamps B are introducedinto circuit. No break of circuit occurs in this operation, as bothcontacts must bear against the lever a at the instant of the shifting ofconnection.

lll E indicate secondary batteries of any dcsired kind, which may be ofthe same or different size, and are intended to supply the current forworking a number of iucandescent electric lamps, G, or othertranslatingr dcvices.

O indicates the electro-magnet, which serves to directly aetuate aswitch for connecting said battery into the general circuit 5, ordiscouneeting it therefrom and connecting it to the circuit ofincandescent lamps or other apparatus indicated at 6. ln the presentinstance the electro-magnet O is controlled bythe electro-magnet M,preferably of high resistance, which, when the battery E is in the maincircuit 5, is in a derived circuit around such bat' tery. The retractorof the armature or equivalent movable portion of electromagnet M is soadjusted that only when the battery has received its proper charge,andthe evolution of gases has begun to take place, will electro magnet-M beenabled (through the current forced into it) to operate its armature orcore against the force of the retractor. Electromagnet O is in the maincircuit 5, but is shunted or disconnected therefrom when magnet Macquires sufficient power. To keep the shunt or short circuit that isclosed by magnet M intact, although the latter may lose its power,another electro-magnet, N, of low resistance, is provided and is placedin the shunt or cut-out circuit. The switch operated by electro-magnet Ois of any suitable kind proper for connecting` the battery E into themain-line circuit when the switch is in one position, and for breakingsuch connection in the other position of the switch, and simultaneouslycompleting a branch circuit around the battery for the main line 5. Inthe present case said switch also constructed to automatically completethe connection for battery E with the circuit supplying the lamps. Thisis'desirable, but not necessary.

C2 'G2 indicate polarized electro-magnetic switches ofsubstanliallythcsamc construction as switches C, controlled from the generatorstationby the pole changer or reverser D, and acting to disconnect thesecondary battery and its apparatus and complete the circuit for themain conductor 5 around such apparatus. In the ease of one of theswitches C an are lamp, B, is shown associated therewith, and with thesecondary-battery apparatus, in such way that the lamp is thrown intothe circuit 5 when the battery is disconnected, and vice versa.

The switch operated by magnet O may be constructed as follows: Gindicates a reeiproeating bar connected with the movable core orarmature of coils O, and provided with asnitable retractor, 7, acting inopposition to said coils. Bar G serves to impart movement to a series ofcontact-levers, H I-I Il II, which work over a series of contact-plates,h h 7L l1,

to two of which, as indicated, the two poles ol.'

the secondary battery are connected, while the remaining two plates Il.are connected with one another. Two ofthe switcl1-levers Il areconnected with the conductors 8 S, forming the local or supply circuitfor the lamps G. The remaining two serve to connect the battery E intothe main-supply circuit 5. The switch- IOO IIO

contacts of the polarized switch C are subr stantially the same asalready described, but may be of any other suitable constructionwherebythe secondary battery apparatus may be connected into and out ofthe main charging-circuit by the operation of the pole-changer orcurrent-reverser D. v

The general circuits are as follows: In the position of switches C2 shown, the secondarybattery apparatus isin the main circuit 5,and in thecase of the apparatus shown at the left of the drawings the secondarybattery is itself in the main supply-circuit 5.

rIhe polarized switch-lever c is against thc lower contact, d, and thecircuit through the apparatus is as follows: From main conductor 5 tothe left of the apparatus through coil b of the polarized switch-levera, lower contact, d, electromagnet O, back contact of armaturelcver formagnet N, Wire 9, and then through the secondary battery by means ofthesecond and fourth of the contact-levers H and the rst and third ofcontacts h, and by wire 10 to the continuation of the main circuit 5.The

magnet M is connected in a derived circuit' around the secondary batteryby wires 12, (shown in dotted line,)which lead from thetlrst and thirdof the contact-plates h. The levers H are held in the position shown bythe attraction of the magnet O, which overcomes theretractive spring 7.XVhen the battery is charged to such an extent that oxygen and hydrogenare set free, its counter electro-motive forcesud` denly increases, sothat sufficient current will be forced through magnet M to draw forwardits armature. The effect of this is to complete a short circuit for thecoils O from contact (l through wire 13, magnet N, front stop for leverthereof, wire 14, front contact of armature for M, and to the lever H,to which coil O is connected by wire 9. The current is thus divertedfrom O, and the spring 7 for the bar G then draws the contact-levers Hback into position, where the second and fourth levers will bedisconnected from the secondary battery and will rest upon the secondand :fourth of the contacts h, which two latter contacts are directlyconnected, as shown, thus simultaneously cutting the battery E out ofcircuit and completing a branch circuit around said battery.` 'Ihecurrent now flows from contact d through wire 13, magnet N, wire 14,armature ot M, and by way of the connected contacts h to wire 10. Thearmature of N is thereby drawn forward against its front contact-stop,thus completing a circuit for said magnet by wire 9, independent of thecircuit' as iirst completed by the magnet M through 14, so that even ifthe armature-lever of the latter magnet opens its contacts the maincircuit and the shunt for O will be nevertheless intact. The armature ofNin coming forward also breaks the circuit for coil O through its backcontact. The condition of the parts as just described is shown in thesecondary-battery apparatus at the right of the drawings, where thesecondary battery is supposed to have acquired its charge and to havebeen automatically disconnected. Vhen the lamps 6 are to be used,theircircuit can be completed by the switch S. At other parts of the circuitthe connections are, as indicated, through the shunt or short circuit,in the right-hand apparatus, around secondary battery and through thelower contacts for the polarized switches C, so as to cut out all of thearc lamps B. lIn

this condition the main-line current passes through such secondarybatteries as have not acquired their proper charge, but avoids all ofthe arc lamps.

, As the various secondary batteries are charged they may singly andindependently of one another be automatically switched out of circuit,as before described. When the arc lamps are to be used, the pole-changerD is Aoperated and the polarized switches disconnect all the secondarybattery apparatus and connect into the circuit the arc lamps. Under thiscondition the main circuit 5 is vthrough the coil I), lever a, uppercontact d, and shortcircuit wire 15 of the secondary-battery station atthe left ofthe drawings, the lower contact d being broken at same time,thence by wire 5 to the coil b, lever a, upper contact d of theapparatus at the right ofdrawi ngs,and by wires 17 through the lamp B,thence by continuation of the main circuit 5, through the lamps B,controlled by switches C. It will be noted, in the automatic operationof a switching apparatus, that the lever of N in coming forward willbreak the circuit of magnet O; but saidcircuit will be completed at thetime that the armature-lever a is drawn to the right, because magnet Nwill have been disconnected by the operation of the polarized switchwhen the arc lamps are thrown into circuit, so that its lever will fallback and thus put the apparatus rinto condition such that when the levera is thrown back to connect in the secondary-battery apparatus themagnet O will cally and independently shunted out by thecontrolling-magnets M as they become charged, since a variation ofcharge in any battery will only affect the magnet in derived circuitaround it. Their currents may be then utilized in the ordinary way atany time. Uien the arc lamps are to be used at night, itis onlynecessary to reverse the direction of the current on theline by thepole-changer D, when the arc lamps will be thrown into circuit and thesecondary-battery apparatus entirely disconnected. Vhen the time arrivesfor utilizing the generator to charge the secondary battery, thepole-changer D is turned back and the polarized switches C C2arcoperated to ICO connect in the secomlarybattery apparatus and cut outthe lamps B.

In Fig. 2 is shown one form of apparatus that may be used in carryingout that portion of my invention which consists in making the change inthe specific gravity of the secondarybattery liquid produce the properswitching operations.

For the sake of simplicity I have herein shown the same apparatus as isshown in Fig. l, the hydrometer or other' apparatus working by a changein the specific gravity of the liquid being employed to close the sainelocal circuit as is closed by the contacts controlled by magnet M ofFig. l. This circuit is that from the wire joined to front contact-stopfor magnet N, Fig. l, to the pivot of the armature-lever for saidmagnet. rlhe same circuit is indicated in Fig. 2 by the two dottedlines, one taken from the frontstopofN tothe frame supporting pivotedcontact a, and the other from the pivot of armature-lcver for N to thecontactm, mounted on a suitable support.

It indicates a hydrometerbulb ci' any desired construction immersed inthe liquid ol.' the secondary battery and having its stem guided in asuitable frame, as indicated. Said hydromctcr acts, as indicated, uponone of the two eontactsm a, corresponding to the contacts closed by theaction of magnet M, Fig. 1, and serves to close the same kind of abranch circuit, as clearly shown by the dotted lilies around the magnet,which directly controls the switch for disconnecting the battery, andthrough the electro-magnet which keeps said branch circuit closed. NVhenthe charging ol' the battery has proceeded to the predetermined point,the hydrometer, owing to the consequent increase in the specific gravityof the battery-liquid, rises to a point at which it will close thecontacts m a, with the ei't'cct of cutting out the battery.

rlhe action isin detail as follows: The switch being in position toclose the circuit to the battery, it is held in such position bytheaction of the magnet O, whose core is attached to the switch-bar. Thenthe contactsm n are closed, the completion of the circuit through themshort-circuits the magnet O just the same as the contacts closed bymagnet M produce the saine effect, thus permitting the switch todisconnect the battery. At-the same time, however, magnet N isenergized, and, drawing up its lever, holds the shunt closed, theoperation in detail being precisely the same from the time of closingthe contacts m a that it is in Fig. l from the time ol closing ofcontact by the armature I'or magnet M.

I do not limit myself to the particular kinds of circuits or apparatusaffected bythe closing ot' m a, the gist of the invention consisting inmaking the hydrometcr cl'l'ect the desired switching ofthe batterythrough any suitable apparatus. Nor do I limit myself to any particularkind of hydromcter or apparatus to be effected by the change in thespecific gravity of the liquid.

Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. An electric-lighting systemcomprising on the same general circuit are lamps, secondary batteriesfor supplying current to incandescent lamps, switches for connecting inthe secondary batteries and simultaneously disconnecting the arc lamps,and vice versa, electro-magnets connected with the main or charg- 7 ingcircuit for controlling said switches, and means at a central orgenerating station for controlling said elcctro-magnets.

2. .A combined arc and incandescent system ol electric ligditing`comprising secondary bat` teries, incandescent lamps to bc operatedthereby and connected therewith through snitable conductors,electric-arc lamps, a main or supply conductor for conveying currentdirectly to said arc lamps or to said secondary batteries for chargingthe same, polarized electro-magnetic switches, whereby the secondarybatteries may be connected to the main conductor, and the arc lamps atthe same time disconnected, and a circuit-controller in the main circuitat the central station for control ling said switches.

3. rlhe combination, with secom'lary-battery apparatus, of a polarizedswitch whose coils are in the main or charging` circuit of said battery,a dynamo electric machine supplying the current for charging saidbattery, and a pole-changer for reversing the connections of thegenerator so as to operate the switch and connect in or disconnect thesecondary battery.

1i. The coi'nbination, on the same general circuit and connected withthe same generator, of electric-arc lamps, a secondary battery orbatteries, incandescentelectric lamps cons nected with said batteries,polarized switches arranged, as described, to,connect the batteries andthe are lamps into circuit in turn, and a pole-changer for reversing theconnection ot' the dynamo-machine with the general circuit.

5. rlhe combination, in the same system, ot' r ro a generator olelectricity, an electric lamp or lamps in one set of connections fromthe eircuit supplied by said generator, a secondary battery or batteriesin another set of connections, incandescent lamps or other translatingdevices ina sub-circuit supplied by the discharge-current from saidbattery, a polarized electro'magnetic switch in circuit with thegenerator and controlling the connections ol' the lamp and battery withthe main line, and a pole-changer for reversing the connection ot' thedynamo-machine.

G. The combination, substantially as described, ot` a dynamo-electricmachine, a polechanger controlling the connection thereol` i with themain circuit, an electric lamp or lamps on the main circuit, aswitchcontrolling the connection of said lamp or lamps and op erated by apolarized electro-n1agnet in the main circuit, and a secondary batterywhose connection is also controlled by a switch and polarized maincircuit electro -n1agnet, said battery being connected with asub-circuit, through which it may discharge when it is disconnected fromthe4 main line, all as described, so that when the current iows in onedirection the battery will be out of circuit and the lanip in circuit,while, vice versa, when the current flows in the other direction thelamps will be iu and the secondary battery out# 7. The combination, witha secondary batvtery, of a reciprocating switch, retractor therefor, andoperating electro-magnet, two sets of contacts for said switch, onecontrolling the connection of the battery with a charging-circuit, theother with a circuit supplying electric lamps or other translatingdevices, and an electro-magnet in a derived circuit around the battery,when it is connected to the charging-circuit, for shunting ordisconnecting the switch-magnet, as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination, with a secondary bat tcry, of switch contact pointsor surfaces for closing a branch around the battery when it acquires apredetermined charge, and an electro magnet or coil in saidbranch, whichserves to actuate contacts also in said branch, whereby the same may bekept closed, although the means whereby such branch is first closed Ymaycease to act.

9. The combination, with a secondary battery, of a high-resistancederived-circuit magn net, a branch circuit controlled thereby, and amagnet-coil in said branch, which acts upon contacts, whereby the branchmay be kept closed after the derived-circuit magnet decreases in power.

10. The combination, with a secondary battery, of a switch-magnet thatwhen ,energized connects the same to a charging-circuit, and whende-cnergized disconnects it therefrom, means for shunting or breakingthe circuit of said magnet when the battery has acquired a,predetermined charge, an electric switch that serves to connect ordisconnect said switch magnet with the main or charging circuit, andmeans at av central station for controlling said latter switch.

1l. The combination, with a secondary battery, of a cut-out ordisconnecting switch, and means for operating said switch upon a changein thespeciiic gravity of the battery-liquid, as and for the purposedescribed.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 12th day of June, A. D. 1883.

Witnesses: Y

Tiros. TooMcY, M. M. FRIEND.

